Thursday, November 12, 2009

Magpie at the pumpkin patch with her uncle a little before her first birthday...

... and five years later.

At the same age, second child Kay of course had to settle for pumpkin headgear instead of a trip to an actual pumpkin patch though she seems happy enough with the substitution:
And here she is just past her fourth birthday:

And that brings us to baby number three, Ziggy. Like Kay, he made no baby trip to the pumpkin patch, but we did bring him back a bitty pumpkin. He was delighted to be remembered.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

"In its effort to race John Allen Muhammad to his death before his appeals could be pursued, the state of Virginia will execute a severely mentally ill man who also suffered from Gulf War Syndrome the day before Veterans Day."

Monday, October 5, 2009

Today, Kay and I were taking a scenic stroll along the streets of Larchmont, NY when we saw a lady walking two small, and very cute, dogs. Kay and I both smiled at the sweet lil dogs.

And I said, "I love those kinds of dogs. I think they're French Bulldogs." And Kay said, "So, they speak French?"

I immediately cracked-up.

Then I felt badly. I shouldn't laugh at a child's naivete I reminded myself sternly, and engaged Kay in several minutes of inane banter about how French Bulldog referred to where the dogs' ancestors came from many years ago, and that these dogs lived here now in Larchmont, NY, so they spoke the same language as their owners, which I assumed to be English.

I even threw in an example to illustrate my point that English Sheepdogs spoke the language of whatever country they happened to be living in and not necessarily English, because again, the English referred to their place of origin and not what language they spoke.

Then Kay asked, quite seriously, "Mommy, how does an English Sheepdog living in France say "Woof" in French?

So I say, "It's the same as English - 'Woof.'"

And Kay says, "But that is how those French Bulldogs just said it, so they are talking in French, like I said."

And I very quickly realized that I probably shouldn't have laughed in the first place. Kay was right - I have no idea if French Bulldogs speak French or English. Why did I think it was silly to think the French Bulldogs spoke French, and I had to go ad be so condescending that they obviously spoke English!

So, I ask, does anyone have an accurate translation of "Woof" or any inside information on what French Bulldogs and English Sheepdogs are most likely to be speaking?

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Today Magpie told me, "Mommy, we are going to get a lot of homework. This is not kindergarten - this is first grade, so the homework will be really, really, hard. So don't be surprised if you find me asleep in my desk chair. Just pick me up and put me in my bed. Tell Daddy too. This applies to both of you."

I promised the girls that they could dress-up Ziggy as soon as their dad went back to work. They took me up on the offer.

First up was the Philadelphia Eagles dress, which had been enjoyed by his sisters as well when they were babies. Then Kay managed to find some perfectly fetching black patent leather party shoes, and proceeded to put them on the boy without him even waking-up.

And last but not least, here's Ziggy in cap and sock-shoes, styled with giraffe and purple hippo puppet.Wonder how the magic happens? Check out this sneak peak behind the scenes of the girls hard at work with his next fashion change.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

We spent a fantastic week in NYC this summer, an urban vacay while we awaited the little one's arrival. He came an entire week and two false alarms later, but hey, I'm not one for keeping track.

Our last day in the City we took the girls to one of their favorite destinations, The American Girl Place, for tea and a present of their choice - which was a gift from the baby. Magpie choose to get a new doll, Rebecca, and Kay also choose to get a new doll, Josephina.

Everyone was happy.

Thanks, Ziggy. You weren't even born yet and already you are the best brother a girl could ever have.

Friday, July 24, 2009

This summer Magpie is going to Nature Camp. Kay is going back-n-forth in our SUV taking Magpie to and from Nature Camp. The irony is not lost on me that every kid without exception is dropped-off at Nature Camp in a SUV. No hybrids, not even a regular car.

The first day of camp Magpie took forever picking out her outfit, I couldn't really figure out what her angle was, but then she finally told me: "I want to blend-in with the trees. I'll see more animals."

Today Magpie's nature education progressed to her pretending to be a grandma spider. And mine - I got to see a Black-Crowned-Night-Heron dive into the water and swallow a fish whole in one giant gulp. It was truly amazing.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

﻿ And Rebecca is - gasp - a Jewish doll! She even lives on the Lower East Side! I'm sure my girls will insist on one of these, and don't think it's lost on me that American Girl knows I will be much more likely to buy them a $95 Rebecca then a $95 Kit or Julie.

I just read a truly fascinating article in The New York Times about an American Girl's Journey to the Lower East Side. This article explores the research and painstaking attention to detail that went into the creation of new girl on the block Rebecca Rubin. The article ends by expressing my thoughts exactly on this new addition to the American Girl Family:

The company hopes the doll will appeal to everyone. If a blond Christian girl in North Dakota enjoys pretending she is living in a tenement on the Lower East Side in 1914, helping her Bubbie make latkes for Hanukkah, American Girl will be happy to sell her a toy menorah.

And no, they're not kidding about the toy menorah:﻿﻿﻿

Sabbath Set. Photo from AmericanGirl.com

﻿﻿﻿Rebecca was introduced for sale to the public in May, 2009. Not coincidentally, Manhattan's Salute to Israel Parade was also held the same day.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Magpie started kickball last week. The first week was filled with the thrill of the game. But the second week? I guess the thrill had already worn-off. I didn't attend the game, but this is the update I got:

Me: How was kickball today?
Husband: Fine, oh fine.
Me: Did she seem to improve from last week, or the same?
Husband: The first two innings she played, the last three innings she held a worm. When she was in the outfield, she insisted on everyone coming over to see the worm. When she was at bat, she ran the bases holding the worm and pointing things out that Wormie (the worm was named) might find of interest.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

I.Mom, Magpie asks, can you open the front door for me. It is literally freezing cold out. Sure, uh why?Magpie says: I just gotta let this little guy go, that's all, and she shows me an ant crawling up her arm.

II.Mom!!!! Mom!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alarmed, I run up the stairs to Kay's room.What's up little bear?There is an ANT!!!!!!!!!! On my bed!!!!!!!! Get it! Get it!
I get it with a tissue, and it is gone.All gone, little pie.Mom, there was an ant! An ANT!!! On my bed!! Are you SURE it's gone?